Now we are getting down to business. Some teams are going to be in bad position after this week's games unless they pull a win out. Time is running out and for those teams on the bubble, it may be about to burst.
Game of the Week #1.......Hoodoo Voodoo Minotaur doll?
Newcastle vs. SAFS
This is a game that the SAFS need badly if they are going to stay in contention for the playoffs. The SAFS still have Osaka, Chillicothe, and Wake waiting for them near the end of the season. Lucky for the SAFS they are playing their favorite whipping boys.....the Mino's! On paper, this game favors Newcastle, but we all know that the player matchup is only part of the game. The SAFS have a 5-1 record against the Mino's with the Mino's only victory coming last year in the regular season. The SAFS paid them back with a 1st round playoff knockout of the Mino's that same season. Has the magic run its course? Can the Mino's finally put the SAFS down for the count? I think this year the Mino's get a little payback for last year and shovel some dirt on the SAFS playoff hopes. The Mino's offense has been pretty consistent all year, while the SAFS have been a little inconsistent. The SAFS will have to put some points up to stay in the game....and they will....for a while. The SAFS will play tough but Newcastle will pull away at the end of this game and extract a little revenge on the SAFS. Mino's by 2 TD's.
Game of the Week #2.....Another Measuring Stick
Vanuatu vs. USGD
The Volcano responded to their loss to Wake Island with a sound thrashing of Gold Coast last week. Now they face another of the new teams in what could be a very interesting game to see how USGD stacks up at this stage of the season. The Dynasty hasn't beaten a team with a winning record yet this year. They get another opportunity this week. The Volcano will be in the playoffs, its just a matter of where. USGD should also be in the playoffs with games remaining against Gold Coast and Drunk Fu left to get to 8 wins. The rest of their schedule is pretty tough. If the Dynasty want to move up in seedings, this would be a good game to start. A tough one to start with though. After looking at both lineups, I think Vanuatu is a little better on both sides of the ball, and should win this game. This is a game where the best game plan will come out on top. There is not much room for error between these two teams. The deciding factor will be the Vanuatu defense's ability to keep the USGD offense bottled up. If they do this, Vanuatu may win easier than the matchups would lead you to believe. I don't think USGD will be able to shutdown the Volcano. This will be a good game that I am looking forward to, but in the end, the Volcano win by 2-3 TD's.
Game of the Week #3.....Its Alive....Alive I Say!
Tuvalu vs. Tonga
The Matadors have risen from the dead the last two weeks with a close loss to a good Chillicothe team and a big win against the SAFS to put themselves in a tie for the 8th spot with the SAFS and owning the tie breaker in head-to-head. Now they have to fend off a desperate Terror squad that needs this win badly or they can pretty much start looking to season 7. A bit early to be kicking dirt on Tonga if they lose? The Terror still have games with Newcastle, Osaka, Chillicothe, and the SAFS left. You tell me if you think the Terror need this game....I already know what I think. A win by the Terror gives them a shot at an 8-8 record and a possible playoff berth. A loss....well...I don't see 8-8 as viable in their future this season. So, the Terror need this game. Tuvalu on the other hand will be sporting an 8-4 record with a win here going into the last 4 games of the season and should be fighting for playoff positioning then. This game then will be a defining point for these two teams....only the Matadors will like the definition though. While both of these teams have been up and down on some performances this year, it seems that Tuvalu is finding its mark now and I expect that to continue with a convincing win against the Terror. Tuvalu by 3 TD's, but they better not look past Tonga or they could get a Terrorable surprise!
Game of the Week #4.....Clock Strikes Midnight
Wake Island vs. Gold Coast
The Samaurai are a team that I can't really figure out. They have a good win over the SAFS, and a bad loss to Tonga. They are not out of the playoffs, but this game could push them to that reality. A win here though, and its a new season. The Samaurai will have to pull off at least 2 upsets to see the playoffs. Why not make one of them here? If this was the first game of the season and I was looking at the rosters, I would expect Gold Coast to win this game in a close match. The Destroyer's performance so far has tinted my prediction glasses a bit. I don't know which Gold Coast team will show up, the team that beat the SAFS or the team that lost to Tonga, but I am pretty sure the same Wake Island team that has been here all year will show up again. I think the Destroyers push the Samaurai right to the edge with a 2 TD win.
Minimum write-up games:
Osaka vs. Penrith
Buckeyes get back on the winning path with an easy win over the Outlaws. Osaka by lots.
Antarctica vs. Cairns
Seals will score early and often in this game against the Fire. Cairns doesn't have enough to keep up. Seals by lots.
Chillicothe vs. Hattrick
Convicts rebound from loss to the Minos with an easy win over Hattrick. Convicts by lots.
Sydney vs. Drunk Fu
Hammerhead's offense will run wild on the Drunk Fu defense, and they will finally have an offense their secondary can defend against.....Sydney by lots.
Conference Leader:
Osaka
Conference Challengers"
Newcastle
Antarctica
Wake Island
Vanuatu
Chillicothe
Playoff Contenders:
Tuvalu
USGD
SAFS
Gold Coast
Playoff Longshot
Tonga
Best of the Rest:
Penrith
Hattrick
Cairns
Sydney
Drunk Fu
Note: All comments are my own and do not reflect the opinions of GLB or any of their sponsers.
Game of the Week #1.......Hoodoo Voodoo Minotaur doll?
Newcastle vs. SAFS
This is a game that the SAFS need badly if they are going to stay in contention for the playoffs. The SAFS still have Osaka, Chillicothe, and Wake waiting for them near the end of the season. Lucky for the SAFS they are playing their favorite whipping boys.....the Mino's! On paper, this game favors Newcastle, but we all know that the player matchup is only part of the game. The SAFS have a 5-1 record against the Mino's with the Mino's only victory coming last year in the regular season. The SAFS paid them back with a 1st round playoff knockout of the Mino's that same season. Has the magic run its course? Can the Mino's finally put the SAFS down for the count? I think this year the Mino's get a little payback for last year and shovel some dirt on the SAFS playoff hopes. The Mino's offense has been pretty consistent all year, while the SAFS have been a little inconsistent. The SAFS will have to put some points up to stay in the game....and they will....for a while. The SAFS will play tough but Newcastle will pull away at the end of this game and extract a little revenge on the SAFS. Mino's by 2 TD's.
Game of the Week #2.....Another Measuring Stick
Vanuatu vs. USGD
The Volcano responded to their loss to Wake Island with a sound thrashing of Gold Coast last week. Now they face another of the new teams in what could be a very interesting game to see how USGD stacks up at this stage of the season. The Dynasty hasn't beaten a team with a winning record yet this year. They get another opportunity this week. The Volcano will be in the playoffs, its just a matter of where. USGD should also be in the playoffs with games remaining against Gold Coast and Drunk Fu left to get to 8 wins. The rest of their schedule is pretty tough. If the Dynasty want to move up in seedings, this would be a good game to start. A tough one to start with though. After looking at both lineups, I think Vanuatu is a little better on both sides of the ball, and should win this game. This is a game where the best game plan will come out on top. There is not much room for error between these two teams. The deciding factor will be the Vanuatu defense's ability to keep the USGD offense bottled up. If they do this, Vanuatu may win easier than the matchups would lead you to believe. I don't think USGD will be able to shutdown the Volcano. This will be a good game that I am looking forward to, but in the end, the Volcano win by 2-3 TD's.
Game of the Week #3.....Its Alive....Alive I Say!
Tuvalu vs. Tonga
The Matadors have risen from the dead the last two weeks with a close loss to a good Chillicothe team and a big win against the SAFS to put themselves in a tie for the 8th spot with the SAFS and owning the tie breaker in head-to-head. Now they have to fend off a desperate Terror squad that needs this win badly or they can pretty much start looking to season 7. A bit early to be kicking dirt on Tonga if they lose? The Terror still have games with Newcastle, Osaka, Chillicothe, and the SAFS left. You tell me if you think the Terror need this game....I already know what I think. A win by the Terror gives them a shot at an 8-8 record and a possible playoff berth. A loss....well...I don't see 8-8 as viable in their future this season. So, the Terror need this game. Tuvalu on the other hand will be sporting an 8-4 record with a win here going into the last 4 games of the season and should be fighting for playoff positioning then. This game then will be a defining point for these two teams....only the Matadors will like the definition though. While both of these teams have been up and down on some performances this year, it seems that Tuvalu is finding its mark now and I expect that to continue with a convincing win against the Terror. Tuvalu by 3 TD's, but they better not look past Tonga or they could get a Terrorable surprise!
Game of the Week #4.....Clock Strikes Midnight
Wake Island vs. Gold Coast
The Samaurai are a team that I can't really figure out. They have a good win over the SAFS, and a bad loss to Tonga. They are not out of the playoffs, but this game could push them to that reality. A win here though, and its a new season. The Samaurai will have to pull off at least 2 upsets to see the playoffs. Why not make one of them here? If this was the first game of the season and I was looking at the rosters, I would expect Gold Coast to win this game in a close match. The Destroyer's performance so far has tinted my prediction glasses a bit. I don't know which Gold Coast team will show up, the team that beat the SAFS or the team that lost to Tonga, but I am pretty sure the same Wake Island team that has been here all year will show up again. I think the Destroyers push the Samaurai right to the edge with a 2 TD win.
Minimum write-up games:
Osaka vs. Penrith
Buckeyes get back on the winning path with an easy win over the Outlaws. Osaka by lots.
Antarctica vs. Cairns
Seals will score early and often in this game against the Fire. Cairns doesn't have enough to keep up. Seals by lots.
Chillicothe vs. Hattrick
Convicts rebound from loss to the Minos with an easy win over Hattrick. Convicts by lots.
Sydney vs. Drunk Fu
Hammerhead's offense will run wild on the Drunk Fu defense, and they will finally have an offense their secondary can defend against.....Sydney by lots.
Conference Leader:
Osaka
Conference Challengers"
Newcastle
Antarctica
Wake Island
Vanuatu
Chillicothe
Playoff Contenders:
Tuvalu
USGD
SAFS
Gold Coast
Playoff Longshot
Tonga
Best of the Rest:
Penrith
Hattrick
Cairns
Sydney
Drunk Fu
Note: All comments are my own and do not reflect the opinions of GLB or any of their sponsers.
Last edited Nov 29, 2008 09:35:58
